Okinawa – a tropical paradise, complete with year round sunshine, pristine beaches, perfect pineapples and the cheerfulness of Ryukyun locals just to the southwest of…

Japan is a big country, in both population, and in cultural properties and its history, so much so that experiencing it all can sometimes be…

Maybe the only way to actually experience the Emishi Village featured in Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke is to visit the upcoming Studio Ghibli theme park,…

Trains are a big part of life in Japan. If you live in a metropolitan city, perhaps as a business person, you can expect a…

When you think of Japan, the first things that often come to mind are overcrowded Tokyo wards and neon shopping districts set abuzz. During non-pandemic…

If you’ve ever made potato salad, then you know that it’s not as simple as spreading butter on toast. While it’s hardly a dish requiring…

Paul Martin, for JAPAN Forward Someone once said that studying the Japanese sword is one of the quickest ways to get a profound understanding of…

During the Asobinotes Online Fes held on Sunday, June 28th, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s fledgling sound entertainment label Asobinotes announced an exciting new project called “Den-On-Bu.”…

It’s not uncommon for Japan to be described as some kind of utopia. The temptation is certainly understandable. Violent crime is exceptionally rare here, the…

Although Japan is largely considered homogeneous, minority groups do exist. Twenty-five thousand residents are considered Ainu, an East Asian ethnic group indigenous to the northern…

Robots and Japan are practically synonymous. The Japanese government and some of its biggest corporations see the 21st century as one of ‘human co-existence with…

John O’Donoghue, for JAPAN Forward Where are you from? This is a question often asked of foreign residents in Japan. While it can get repetitive,…

Are you planning to pop the big question to your girlfriend? Do you dread the prospect of meeting your father-in-law for the first time? If…

Japan seems like it may be poised for an economic downturn. Moody’s Analytics recently noted that Japan, alongside Singapore, would likely be one of the…

A few days ago I was cycling down the River Arakawa when I came to Ojima Komatsugawa park. Being on a spur of land that…